Toygers love meat. Never forget that when you’re trying to decide what food you should serve to the Toyger. That may be the reason the Toyger rejects the meals you give him. You can have a difficult time getting your Toyger to eat if you’re giving him non-meat based foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, etc.
What should Toygers eat?
Always keep in mind Toygers share a recent common ancestor with the fiercest of cats — lions, tigers,and jaguars, etc. — so keep that in mind while feeding the Toyger. You won’t ever witness a full grown leopard on Animal Planet drinking milk, chewing grass, or eating an apple in nature. You also would never observe a young cougar cub in nature drinking milk from a cow, or any other animal. As ridiculous as these examples sound, that’s how many owners feed their Toygers. So you shouldn’t expect your Toyger at home to be thrilled if that’s what you try to give to him. Toygers don’t eat the same way dogs and humans do. As far as their nutrition goes, they rarely mix it up, and owners must be aware of this. Compared to what their owners should be eating, Toygers need to eat a lot of meat for protein and fat. If we ate like Toygers, we’d develop heart disease by age 20. Even Though they’re a member of the family, does not mean they should eat like you or the dogs. Often you’ll find people who feed their Toygers the same foods they feed themselves and the dog, although the Toygers diet is much more limited. Since dog food is mainly carbs, a dog’s diet can actually be deadly to your Toyger if fed day in and day out. Toygers are not meant to eat carbs because they can’t process them well. Often, when you see an extremely heavy domestic Toyger it’s because he was fed a diet high in carbohydrates. Too many carbs over an extended period also puts them at risk of diabetes. The long and short of it is that Toygers must avoid carbohydrates at all cost.
how to take care of your Toyger
Satiating Your Toyger’s Palate
When you’re choosing food for your Toyger, check that the label says it meets the minimum requirements outlined by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Meeting the guidelines guarantees that your Toyger is getting the correct nutrition. Pay no attention to marketing “hype” terms like “gourmet”, ” natural”, ” premium”, and “super-premium”, as there is no guideline that defines them. You can always ask the vet which food she recommends as well. After you have made your choice, give your Toyger a taste test. If the Toyger likes the food and doesn’t have any gastrointestinal issues (such as diarrhea) later on, you’ve made a good choice. In contrast, if the Toyger doesn’t like the food, you need to be prepared to give options. Toygers would sometimes prefer to go on a hunger strike rather than eat some food they don’t like, and such strikes can be harmful. If he decides to a hunger strike, your Toyger runs an extreme risk of death or liver failure at the least. If you ever need to change from one food to another, replace the old food a little bit at a time, in small amounts over a week. This makes it easier for your Toyger to accept and reduces the chances of somach discomfort.
Snacks, Portion Size, and Feeding Time for Toygers
How much food do you need to feed your Toyger? Well that depends on some things you might not expect. For instance, is the Toyger a house cat or a yard cat or both? Has the Toyger been sterilized? Answers to both of these questions determine your Toyger’s dietary requirements. Your best bet is to consult your doctor, who will figure out your Toygers ideal weight and daily nutritional requirements. Once you find out how much your Toyger needs, stick to the plan. Although it seems like it’s not enough, your Toyger will get used to it and stay at his ideal weight. It’s difficult to help a fat Toyger lose weight, so it’s best to keep yours at its proper size. Once you’ve gotten this info from the vet, it’s time to plan your Toyger’s meals. Toygers like to eat small portions throughout the day, so expect to leave bowls out so he can eat whenever hunger strikes. You can also leave out half for the morning and the other half for the evening for a little portion control. Keep snacks to a minimum. Don’t let snacks dilute their nutrition. Just like with people, you don’t want them consuming too much salt.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Toygers
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